Defending Democracy:
an Activist Resource Kit

Your Guide to Defending Democracy

CHALLENGING THE RIGHT-- LOOKING BENEATH THE SLOGANS

In Defending Democracy: An Activist Resource Kit,
Political Research Associates looks beneath the slogans and soundbites
to present a comprehensive examination of the political Right in
the United States. Based on PRA’s twenty years experience monitoring
the Right, Defending Democracy provides facts and analysis on the
threat the Right poses to democratic principles, diversity and equality.
While the Right claims that it represents a more fair and direct
form of democracy, this kit documents how it has closed economic opportunities,
denied equal protection of law and limited individual rights for many people.
Whether using ballot initiatives or the courts, whether advocating for "colorblind" policies
or "compassionate conservatism," whether advocating business protectionism
or scapegoating immigrants, the Right’s campaigns have mobilized a broad
base while pursuing reforms that disproportionately benefit a small constituency.

SUPPORTING FRONT LINE ACTIVISTS

The Right is made up of various sectors, including the
Christian Right, the New Right and the Hard Right; each has different
agendas and constituencies. By detailing the leaders, ideologies and
agendas, Defending Democracy describes the shape and substance of the
groups that make up the Right, using a selection of sources and approaches
designed to meet activists’ needs. In a readable and reproducible format,
this 130 pages kit can serve as either a quick reference guide or a source
of in-depth and nuanced analysis of the Right.

Overview of the Right

Insightful articles by PRA President Jean Hardisty, Senior Researcher
Chip Berlet and historian Matthew Lyons, Christian Right analyst Frederick
Clarkson and the Blue Mountain Working Group provide an overview of the Right
today detailing the ways in which it is politically complex, powerfully mature
and fundamentally anti-democratic.

Organizing Advice

Based on the work of PRA staff and our colleagues in other organizations,
the kit provides advice on how to debate the Right effectively; how to respond
to hate activity in your community; and ways to protect your work and yourself
in the face of harassment. Additional articles provide help on working with
the media and focusing on fundraising.

Resources

Defending Democracy contains indispensable, detailed directories
of both right-wing groups and progressive organizations in the US as well as
an extensive bibliography on the US political Right.

Defending Democracy
is part of a series of Activist Resource Kits produced by PRA.
If you would like more information on this kit or our other
resources, please email PRA: pra@publiceye.org, Or call for ordering
information: 617 666-5300